Manicuring device



Jan. 29, 1929. 1,700,475

I. .M. ELDRIDGE MANICURING DEVICE Filed May 5, 1926 INVENTOR [dd M E/dr/k/ge BY W HER ATTORNEY Patented .Fan. 29, 1929.

UNITED STATES.

LOS GELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR F ONE-'HALF TO LENA R. HOEFLER, OF LOS AN GELES, CALIFORNIA.

IDA. M. ELDRIDGE, OF

PATENT OFFICE.

MANICUBING DEVICE.

Application filed May 3,

This invention relates to a machine for manicuring, and especially to a power driven device of this character.

The process of manicuring has heretofore usually been performedby various manually manipulated instruments, such as files, buffers, orthe like. Attempts have been made to provide power driven tools or implements for this purpose, but so far as I know, there is a likelihood of painfully injuring the nails or the fingers. For example, when removing .the cuticle with such a power driven device,

there is a danger of runing it too far under the hem of the nail. Similarly, when using an emery paper disc for removing the feather edge of the nails after filing, there is a danger of the disc being urged too stron ly underneath the nail, whereby painfu even if minor, injuries may be inadvertently inflicted.

' It is accordingly one of the objects of my invention to provide a power driven manicuring device in which such disadvantages are obviated.

It is another object of my invention to im prove in general, power driven manicuring devices.

It is still another object of myinvention to simplify the structure of a motor driven 30 manicuring device.

It is still another object of my invention to provide a novel form of instrument for manicuring, that is capable of being motor driven and used for applying various cleansing agents to the nail or hand.

In furthering some of these objects, I make use of a guard for the instrument that insures against painful injury. While such a guard is simple, yet by its application to a manicuring device that is motor driven, the commercial utilization of such a device is rendered entirely feasible and safe. It is accordingly still another object of my invention to provide a novel form of guard for the various rotating abrasive or cutting implements. From another aspect, my invention can readily be incorporated in machines adapted to be used for the cleaning and polishing of toe nails as well as finger nails. 50 My invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more easily apparent from a consideratlon of one embodiment of my invention. For this purpose I have shown. a form 5 in the drawings accompanying and forming 1926. Serial No. 106,519.

part of the present specification. I shall now proceed to describe this form in detail, which illustrates the general principles of my invention; but it isto be understood that this detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of my invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a complete manicuring instrument embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a View, partly in section, of a rotating cutting attachment that forms the o erative portion of the instrument shown in ig. 1; and

Figs. 3 and 4 are views, similar to Fig. 2, of other attachments that forma part of the complete deyice.

In Fig. 1, I show a casing 11, in which there is housed a source of motion, such as a small electric motor. A rotating shaft 12 is connected to the motor and connects to a fiexibleshaft 13, which permits the various implements to be readily operated in any position. A knob 14 connects to a switch inside casing 11 for controlling the motor. Since my present invention is not concerned with the source of motion nor the transmission of its power, further description thereof is considered unnecessary.

The free end 15 of the flexible shafting 13 carries any one of the interchangeable instruments, such as a buffer, or file, or emery wheel,

each adapted to be driven bythe shaft. Thus for example, I show a rotating cutter 16 (Fig. 2) which is in the form of a dental drill or burr. This is fastened to a rotatable member 17, journaled in a housing 18, into which a projection of the shaft 13 enters and engages the member 17. The pin 19 may be used in connection with a bayonet slot in the extension 15 of the shaftfor holding the parts together. Furthermore the housing 18 has an integrally formed knurled flange 20, whereby it may be readily gripped during the manicuring operation. The housing 18 is shown in this instance as having a conical or tapered portion 21.

The burr or cutter 16 can be used, as indicated in Fig. 2, to lift the hem of the nail, and to clear away the cuticle at that point. Without further precautions, it is evident that it may be urged too far under the hem and cause a painful and bloody injury. With myinvention, such an occurrence cannot happen. There is shown in section in Fig. 2, a guard 23, circular in form, and in this instance, held in place frictionally on the tapered surface 21. This uard has an aperture 24 at its free end t rou h which the instrument 16 projects only su ciently to be capable of eflicient use. The guard is in the form of a pointed hollow cone, wherebya pointed effect is obtained, and no interference is had from it during the operation of the device. I

It is readily apparent that the tip of guard 23 serves efiectively as a stop against the adjacent portions of the hand, and prevents jabbing the rotating instrument 16 too far under the hem or other parts. This is due to the provision of an annular guarding surface 39 that is flat and spaced back of and closely adjacent the rotating tool or implement 16.

The same principle of providing an annular guarding surface can be applied to other attachments for manicuring. Thus in Fig. 3, I show a housing 25 capable of-attachment to shaft extension 15, and havinga rotating spindle 26 journaled therein and adapted to be engaged and driven from shaft 13. The end of this spindle has an enlarged flange 27, serving as a support for an abrading disc 28, made-for instance from emery paper, and held in place by a small screw 29.

Such a wheel or disc 28 is adapted to be used for trimming and removing the feather edge of a nail such as 30, after it has been filed. In this operation, the edge of the disc is projected underneath the nail, as i1- lustrated. If no rovisions be made, it would require very care handling indeed to revent the rotating edge from injuring the esh adjacent the ,end of the nail. With my invention this is entirely obviated. In this instance, the edgeof the disc-28'is guarded by a flange '31 WlllCh projects annular-1y around the edge and yet is thin enough to permit it to enter beneath the nail,30. This flange 31 has a thin annular surface in about the same plane as that of disc 28. It can conveniently be formed integrally with the housing 25. It serves efiiciently as a stop, contacting with the flesh under the nail, to prevent the edge of disc 28 from entering into the space 'between the bottom of nail 30 and the flesh underneath it; The guard is also useful in connection with the operation of the disc in other ways. a

Still another attachment is indicated in Fig. 4. In this. instance, the housing 32 is shown in complete section; a spindle 33being journaled therein. This spindle hasan enlarged portion with a slot 3 1 for engaging a projection on the end of the flexible shafting 13, whereby it may be driven. Of course this arrangement is entirely analagous to that used in connection with I the attachments shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The thinner portion 35 extends practically to the extremity of housing 32, and has screwed or otherwise attached to it, a conical point 36. The conical surface of this point is ridged or roughened, as indicated at 37, for the purpose of efiec tively gripping a wad of absorbent cotton 38 or other material. In this manner, a rotating cotton point is obtained, which can be used to applyoil orother cleansing agents to the nail. 7 I 7 I claim:

1. In an instrument of the character described, a rotating operating element having a cutting point, and an annular guard space from the point and surrounding the element.-

2. In an instrument of the character described, a rotating operating point, a housing for rotatably supporting said point, and

a guard t'elescpping'over the housing "and covering all but a small portion of said point.

3. In an instrument of the charactendescribed, a housing having a ta ered surface, a rotating element journaled in said housing and extending beyond it, and a tapered guard frictionally engaging said tapered surrotating element.

4. In an instrument of the character described, a rotating conical point, means providing a bearing therefor, said point having a roughened conical surface to serve effectively to hold absorbentcotton or the like.

5. In an instrument of the character described, a rotating element having an operating surface, and a guard forming a flat annular guarding edge around said surface and closely adjacent thereto.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set I my hand. I

IDA M. ELDRIDGE.

face and forming an annular stop around the v 

